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Wildfires Burning Out Of Control Across California; Experts Fear Labor Day Gatherings Could Spark COVID-19 Cases Surge; Michael Cohen Says President Trump Is A Bully, Racist And Predator. Aired 3-4p ET

Aired September 06, 2020 - 15:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

[15:00:52]

BIANNA GOLODRYGA, CNN HOST: Hello everyone and thanks so much for joining me. I'm Bianna Golodryga, in for Fredricka Whitfield and this is a Special Labor Day weekend edition of CNN NEWSROOM.

We begin this hour with a desperate situation unfolding in California. Wildfires burning out of control across the state. California now breaking an all-time record for acres burned in a year, over 2,094,000.

And overnight rescuers saving hundreds from flames engulfing part of a national forest in Northern California, but officials fear many more may still be trapped. Calling this a mass casualty event with a dozen people already injured, the fire exploding in size and cutting off the only road to safety.

It is one of at least 15 fires burning right now in California, all fueled by a record breaking heatwave that saw temperatures soar in some places to over 120 degrees.

Meanwhile, fears are growing about another disaster and that of course is the coronavirus. Experts project scenes like this one on holiday weekend, packed beaches could lead to a new surge in cases and deaths with one new model projecting more than 410,000 deaths in the U.S. by the end of 2020. The current death toll 188,000 and counting.

All of this as we get new damning details about President Trump from a new tell all book obtained by CNN. The President's former attorney, Michael Cohen, calling his longtime boss a cheap, liar, fraud, bully, racist predator, and a con man.

But let's begin with those wildfires in California. A terrifying situation playing out as hundreds of campers tried to escape the flames of the Creek Fire in the Sierra National Forest.

Just take a look at the harrowing moments when a group of hikers tried to drive to safety as the fire closed in on them.

[VIDEO CLIP PLAYS]

GOLODGRYGA: Overnight, more than 200 people were airlifted to safety after the fire cut off the only access road and officials worry that many more are still at risk.

CNN's Paul Vercammen is monitoring the latest from the Los Angeles neighborhood of Venice and Paul, already a record breaking wildfire year, and it's not even over yet. What are you hearing?

PAUL VERCAMMEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, I'm hearing that fire fighters and captains I've been talking to all morning long are so concerned because it is only September. We have not even had the Santa Ana wind events that cause fires as we get in November and October. So they are concerned that firefighters are just going to flat get burned out.

Let's talk about what put us over the top. That fire burning northeast of Fresno. That's in a national forest there. It was ringing this mammoth reservoir.

You talked about those evacuees fleeing, many of them were airlifted out, 224, twenty of those people taken into area hospitals for injuries such as burns as well as broken bones. Others drove out and let's listen to the description of what it was like as fire ringed them and they got out of there in their vehicles.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JULIANA PARK, FLED WILDFIRE IN SIERRA NATIONAL PARK: I think if we had stayed just 10 minutes more, we might not have been so lucky. We did run into a Ranger on the road on the 6-SO1 trail, the road, still without cell service, and she was able to lead us up to the point of that spot fire and it was actually through her instruction that we drove through that fire. She said it was the only way down and it hadn't yet crossed the road and that we just had to drive through it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VERCAMMEN: Now, the latest statistics from Cal Fire, this Creek Fire has burned 45,000 acres, but some climate experts are expecting that triple because of the aerial view.

The plume has been sent up into the sky, eight or nine miles. It is creating its own weather and in this area, in the Sierra National Forest, they are telling people in nearby lakes to be prepared to evacuate.

On one lake, Bass Lake, the visibility is so horrendous that officials have warned people to reduce their boat speed to five miles per hour. It looks like nighttime as they are in their boats in the middle of daytime.

So throughout California, tremendous concerns and also for the heat in Southern California, record-breaking temperatures we are hearing up to 120 degrees in spots that never see temperatures like that -- Bianna.

[15:05:33]

GOLODGRYGA: Yes, that aerial image, Paul, it looks like a volcanic eruption. I don't know how else to describe it. It's stunning. Thank you so much for bringing us these latest updates, and of course

you're going to stay on this crisis for us as well.

The situation in California made all the worse as the state sees record breaking heat waves. Some areas getting hit with temperatures above 120 degrees.

Meteorologist, Tom Sater joins me now and Tom, certainly a dire situation for everyone involved in these wildfires. How long can we expect to see these record temperatures?

TOM SATER, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Well, at least, in the next couple of days and then for some areas of California, they'll continue even into this week. But there is a dramatic change on the way that's going to shock a lot of people when I show you this.

First, let's start with the fires. Take a look at a view from space. Yesterday, sapphire blue skies across all of California. At 10 in the morning and 11 o'clock in the morning and then notice the smoke. This is not thunderstorm activity. This is not rain. This is wildfire activity that was just explosive.

In fact, that Creek Fire is showing no signs of letting up right now, Bianna. We've had in the last couple of hours a few lightning strikes. That's the last thing you want. It just shows you the extent of the uplift and the power of these systems creating these pyrocumulus clouds, but there is -- the smoke is coming down to the surface. High pressure is causing the atmosphere to be shoved down to the Earth.

So again, it is quite thick and it is terrible for those with breathing and respiratory issues, but the red flag warnings from the West Coast all the way into the Midwest.

Over 80 records will be broken for heat today. This is not the first heat wave. We've seen record breaking heat waves it seems like month after month, but they're not just setting daily records. They're breaking monthly records.

We've seen a couple of September records broken yesterday and again today and tomorrow. Notice Los Angeles, 102 down to 91. But watch what happens. Unbelievable. This is just mind boggling. The temperature drop we're going to see, thanks to a couple of typhoons in the Pacific.

I fear for some farmers and ranchers that have to deal with this, but snowfall in a 24-hour period. We're going to see temperatures going from heatwave conditions to blizzard conditions and it will help firefighters in some states.

Unfortunately, that front is not going to make its way through California enough to aid them, but notice Denver, 101 yesterday, 36 on Tuesday. Unbelievable.

GOLODGRYGA: Unbelievable indeed. And as you mentioned, those first responders and firefighters really need a cool front headed their way. So it can't come soon enough. SATER: They do.

GOLODGRYGA: Tom Sater, thank you.

Well, with Labor Day celebrations in full swing, fears over a coronavirus holiday surge are increasing. Despite the advice of health experts, we're seeing large gatherings in cities across the country especially at beaches.

CNN's Evan McMorris-Santoro is in Asbury Park, New Jersey and Evan, how are the crowds looking there?

EVAN MCMORRIS-SANTORO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Bianna, we've been here for a couple hours. We are on the iconic boardwalk in Asbury Park. And as you can see, the beach crowd has basically stayed the same since we've been here, which is the point.

They are tightly controlling the number of people who can get on the beach here. They say they've limited it to much less than they would usually have in a non-pandemic beach weekend.

But the other thing going on in New Jersey this weekend is sort of a new experiment in reopening this state after months of being one of the hardest hit places in America for this pandemic.

The governor allowed indoor dining of 25 percent capacity starting this weekend across the state and I have with me, a manager of one of the restaurants here on the boardwalk, Kory Tekiela of Langosta Lounge.

Kory, nice to talk to you.

KORY TEKIELA, MANAGER, LANGOSTA LOUNGE: How are you doing?

SANTORO: So tell me how important it has been to have this change, to allow indoor dining for your business?

TEKIELA: Oh, it's huge. I mean, we need more people, we need more business and opening the further 25 percent has helped us tremendously.

SANTORO: Now the rules are what? I have to wear a mask in there? How does it work to go into indoor dining?

TEKIELA: When you walk up, we have to take your temperature, and then when you're inside the venue, not at your table, you have to wear your mask. Once you sit down, you could take it off while you eat and drink. But if you go to the bathroom or such, you've got to put your mask back on.

SANTORO: Now, you've been through this entire thing this whole year. This is where the rubber meets the road. If this experiment doesn't work, restaurants have to close down again, the governor says.

So how confident are you this is actually going to actually work? TEKIELA: I'm pretty confident. I mean, we're taking all of the

necessary precaution, and I think that the whole restaurant industry is being very safe and hoping to get us back on track.

SANTORO: Got it. Great. Thanks a lot.

So Bianna, that's really the story here in New Jersey. It is trying to get this state back up and running again, just really six months to almost a day since the first pandemic case was reported here, that happened last week.

[15:10:11]

SANTORO: So that's what they're trying to do here in New Jersey, it is not only get the beaches open and the economy running there, but also those restaurants and get them going again, too -- Bianna.

GOLODGRYGA: Of course, the restaurant and hospitality industry could desperately use extra patrons as well. Let's make sure that they all remain safe and healthy and follow guidelines.

Evan McMorris-Santoro, thank you so much.

Well, coming up in the CNN NEWSROOM, shocking new allegations against President Trump, his former attorney Michael Cohen describing alleged episodes of racism by the President.

Plus find out why "Miracle on the Hudson" pilot, Sully Sullenberger is blasting President Trump.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

GOLODGRYGA: President Trump's former attorney Michael Cohen leveling explosive allegations against his longtime boss in a new book, "Disloyal: A Memoir" is out on Tuesday, but CNN has obtained a copy and Cohen's narrative adds to the growing list of insider accounts on the President and his character.

CNN Brynn Gingras joins us now and Brynn, a lot to unpack in this book. A lot of it shocking, a lot of it regurgitation of what we've heard in the past in allegations, walk us through what stood out to you.

[15:15:20]

BRYNN GINGRAS, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Bianna. Well, first of all, you know, Michael Cohen really summarizes how he feels about his former boss now with one quote. I want to read that quickly to you before I get to some of the key points but he says basically, Donald Trump is quote, "a cheat, a liar, a fraud, a bully, a racist, a predator, a con man."

And as you just said, we've heard a lot from insiders sort of describe different adjectives with the President, things he has done, but never really from someone who has known the President before he was in the White House and many decades before when he was working as his personal attorney and as his self-proclaimed fixer.

So that in itself is a big deal, and what we're really hearing from Michael Cohen, a couple of things; one, the fact that you know, he is calling President Trump a racist. He brings up specific examples of times where he has acted like a racist according to this book.

In one, he basically essentially says that President Trump thinks that any country that's run by a black leader is an S-hole, which we've heard before, of course, and then I want to bring up a quote that Michael Cohen writes, in this book about the minority voting bloc. He says quotes, "Plus, I will never get the Hispanic vote," Trump allegedly told Cohen, "Like the blacks, they're too stupid to vote for Trump. They're not my people."

Of course, this was before the 2016 election. Michael Cohen alleges this.

There's also a lot of context in this book when it comes to Vladimir Putin and President Trump's sort of affinity with the Russian President and how he runs his country, and Michael Cohen says that basically, Trump didn't think he was going to win that election in 2016.

And then he started to realize what he could do with the power of the presidency. Let me read you this text. It says, quote, "I honestly believe the most extreme ideas about power and its uses only really took shape as he began to seriously contemplate the implications of taking power, and how he could leverage it to the absolute maximum level possible."

And he talks in really descriptive detail about how President Trump really tried to cozy up with Putin in order to get personal deals done like a tower in Moscow, which of course has been a part of, you know, criminal proceedings when it relates to Cohen.

So there's just a lot of specific detail. And of course, Michael Cohen, like I said, he is not just anyone. He is someone who has known the President for decades -- Bianna.

GOLODGRYGA: And obviously, Michael Cohen being a controversial figure as well. He has lied to Congress in the past. He has apologized for that, but we can imagine that the White House will be using that in response and in defense of this book and the allegations in it.

GINGRAS: And then they have, ever since there was word of Michael Cohen writing a tell-all book, right? But yes, they did come out with a statement that was given to "The Washington Post" from the White House. Press Secretary, Kayleigh McEnany, and I want to read what she said to "The Washington Post" quote: "Michael Cohen is a disgraced felon and disbarred lawyer who lied to Congress. He has lost all credibility, and it's unsurprising to see his latest attempt to profit off of lies."

Now, of course, we do know like you said, Bianna, that Michael Cohen is still serving Federal time, a three-year sentence when he pleaded guilty to nine Federal accounts, including tax fraud with his own business dealings, and also lying to Congress, which he said he did at the behest of the President for his wishes when it came to those hush money payment deals.

But certainly at this point in his life, he basically says that he is now trying his hardest to really not -- you know, to avoid President Trump getting reelected and he's going to do all he can and whether you believe him or not, it's out there in this book, if you want to believe it, and then make your decision in November -- Bianna.

GOLODGRYGA: Well, some of these allegations like S-hole countries, we've heard that account before from others and it fits a lot of the descriptions that those who have spoken out against him have leveled at the President as well.

Brynn Gingras, always great to see you. Thanks so much.

Well, a former Trump administration official has now told CNN that President Trump did refer to fallen U.S. service members in crude and derogatory terms. That former official largely confirmed details from an explosive article published in "The Atlantic" magazine, which cited sources who said the President referred to fallen U.S. troops from World War I buried in a French cemetery as losers and suckers. The President continues to forcefully deny that report.

And for more on this, let's bring in CNN's Jeremy Diamond who is at the White House. Jeremy, what more are you learning about this?

JEREMY DIAMOND, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, Bianna, less than two months ago until the election, this is not the kind of story that the White House and the President wants to be dealing with, and they have been dealing with it now for several days and showing few signs that it's going to go away anytime soon.

A former senior administration official now confirming to CNN that the President did indeed refer to the fallen soldiers during this trip to France, as -- in crude and derogatory terms largely confirming this account in "The Atlantic" magazine that was published a few days ago.

Now this morning, we saw more members of the President's Cabinet coming out to try and defend him, just the latest in a parade of senior officials who have done so. Listen to this.

[15:20:18]

DANA BASH, CNN CHIEF POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: Have you ever heard the President disparage U.S. service members or veterans?

ROBERT WILKIE, VETERANS AFFAIRS SECRETARY: Well, absolutely not. And I would be offended to if I thought it was true.

STEVEN MNUCHIN, U.S. TREASURY SECRETARY: I think this President has enormous respect for the military, and for the Generals, and I've been at the tank at the Pentagon with him. I have been at 9/11 at the Pentagon with him. This President respects and supports the U.S. military.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

DIAMOND: Now, of course, the President as well is also vociferously denying this story, insisting that he would never refer to service members in this way, saying that only an animal would do so, but his defense has also been complicated by his own words.

The Presidents has not only claimed that Melania Trump, the First Lady was back in the U.S. and that he talked to her on the phone, she was actually on the trip with him. And then further complicating the denials, he claimed at the same time that he had never referred to Senator John McCain, the late Senator John McCain as a loser, which of course, if you just roll the tape, you can see that the President did just that.

So as the President is trying to deny this story, he is also making several other falsehoods. And then of course, there is just the President's record of public comments on John McCain, for example. The President has referred not only to John McCain, but to other prisoners of war, saying that he prefers people who were not captured.

So again, because of the fact that so many news organizations at this point have confirmed the story including FOX News and CNN, you're also putting the President's own words against what is now being reported, and it forms a pretty full and complete picture -- Bianna.

GOLODGRYGA: Yes, "The Atlantic" also reporting that the President disparaged President George H.W. Bush for his term and time serving in World War II as well. There seems to be no bottom.

Jeremy Diamond, thank you so much.

Well, just ahead, politics and the coronavirus pandemic. Vice presidential candidate Kamala Harris criticizes the Federal response in a CNN exclusive.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. KAMALA HARRIS (D-CA), DEMOCRATIC VICE PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE: I would trust the word of public health experts and scientists, but not Donald Trump.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:26:25]

GOLODGRYGA: In an exclusive new interview with CNN, Senator Kamala Harris is refusing to say whether she'll take a coronavirus vaccine if one is released before the election. The Democratic VP pick is accusing the President of rushing the process. She says Trump can't be trusted.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HARRIS: I think that we have learned since this pandemic started, but really before that, that there's very little that we can trust that comes out of Donald Trump's mouth.

His priority was to do whatever he thought was politically expedient, and so no, I would not trust his word. I would trust the word of public health experts and scientists, but not Donald Trump.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GOLODGRYGA: And joining me now is Dr. Abdul El-Sayed. He is a public health expert and an epidemiologist. Doctor, This pandemic has no doubt gotten political, unfortunately. But how do Americans weed out all of the noise and get straight to the facts and the truth?

DR. ABDUL EL-SAYED, EPIDEMIOLOGIST: Well, this is a political season. And of course, everything that we do and touch has politics involved. That's how we make decisions about scarce resources.

The problem though, is that when you have leaders who believe and trust in science, what they do is they let the science go forward. They don't interfere with the process or try and bias the outcomes, they recognize that science is an independent pathway for truth, and they allow that truth to come out and then they lead by activating resources to empower that truth to solve problems.

That is not what Donald Trump has done. In fact, Donald Trump has tried to interfere with science at every step of the way, whether it was talking about hydroxychloroquine before, of course, we had good evidence about whether or not that drug was safe and effective, or he was even talking about -- telling people to take detergent at the most extreme.

But he has also interfered with the workings of the F.D.A., trying to pressure an Emergency Use Authorization for convalescent plasma or interfering with the C.D.C.'s regular analysis of data and publication of data.

And now we're worried, right, because one of the most important things that we can do is come up with a scientifically-based, evidence driven, safe and effective vaccine. And now he is applying pressure.

And that has been the challenge and so, we need leadership that is going to put the science forward rather than the politics forward.

GOLODGRYGA: And Doctor, I was struck by something you wrote in a new CNN op-ed that President Trump's response, in your opinion to the pandemic is worse than just giving up. What do you mean by that?

EL-SAYED: Look, if Donald Trump excised himself from the process, then you'd have state governors and local leaders who would come together to do their best around what could be done to doing basic things, public health blocking and tackling around this pandemic, whether it's contact tracing or testing acquisition, or it's providing basic levels of primary care or PPE to those providing that care.

But instead, what's happened is that Donald Trump has interfered with that basic work. So he is not operating to make sure that the Federal government is mounting a response to the pandemic, and he is not getting out of the way.

Instead, he is interfering with the work that governors and local officials are doing every single step of the way.

And so, this is worse than just giving up. What he is doing is trying to play the pandemic toward his political ends and getting in the way and meanwhile, 185,000 people have died.

We're looking at a fall where estimates suggest that we could see another 200,000 plus die of COVID-19, and throughout this whole thing, Donald Trump is asking himself, how do I deliver an October surprise? How do I make sure that I am manipulating the story to drive my political purposes?

And meanwhile people are dying because of this mendacity.

GOLODGRYGA: And yet he continues to say we are rounding the corner on coronavirus. And clearly, unfortunately, we are not.

I want to get your take on "The Wall Street Journal's" report that some companies that are working to develop a vaccine now have taken a safety pledge to prevent a premature F.D.A. approval. Does this go far enough? And is it helpful in your view? Or does this sort of raise more questions about the politics that could be involved?

[15:30:33]

EL-SAYED: Well, I'll say both. It's both helpful because these corporations are standing up and saying that we will not look for an Emergency Use Authorization, until we know that the vaccines that we're producing are truly safe and effective.

And so the public should rest assured and of course, they know that the public won't take a vaccine that they think has been an outcome of a political process rather than a scientific one.

But at the same time, you have to ask yourself why is a coalition of corporations standing up to assure the American people that this is going to be a scientifically driven process? What are they hearing from the administration that we may not be hearing?

And so this is really concerning from that front. But also, the American people should rest assured that these corporations are telling us that when they look for an authorization, it will be because it is safe and effective and that they will be fully transparent.

And as a scientist, what I'm looking for, and what I'll be asking before I tell my family to get this vaccine is that evidence does stack up, that we can see from Phase 3 trials that these vaccines are truly safe, truly effective, and will help us beat this thing finally.

GOLODGRYGA: Yes, follow the evidence and do your research. Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, always great to have you on. Thank you so much. We appreciate it.

EL-SAYED: Thank you for having me. Have Holiday.

GOLODGRYGA: You too. Well, coming up, Joe Biden and Anita Hill have a troubled history that dates back decades, but now she is endorsing him and even willing to go a step further.

The exclusive interview is just ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:36:07]

GOLODGRYGA: Anita Hill says Joe Biden has her support despite their troubled past. Hill and Biden infamously faced off at a Capitol Hill confirmation hearing for Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, something Biden has had to confront during his campaign for President.

CNN's Gloria Borger spoke with Anita Hill.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOE BIDEN (D), THEN A U.S. SENATOR: Professor, do you swear to tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth? So help you God?

ANITA HILL, AMERICAN LAWYER AND ACADEMIC: I do.

BIDEN: Thank you.

GLORIA BORGER, CNN CHIEF POLITICAL ANALYST: Was it scary?

HILL: Oh, it was terrifying.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GLORIA BORGER, CNN CHIEF POLITICAL ANALYST (voice over): It's been nearly 30 years since Anita Hill testified before a now infamous Senate Judiciary hearing led by Joe Biden.

She has come to a surprising conclusion.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BORGER (on camera): Who would you like to see elected in November?

HILL: I think Joe Biden is the person who should be elected in November.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BORGER (voice over): And that's not all.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BORGER (on camera): Would you be willing to work with him?

HILL: Yes. My commitment is to finding solutions, and I am more than willing to work with him. (END VIDEO CLIP)

BORGER (voice over): Hill became a household name, testifying before the all-male committee during the Supreme Court confirmation of Clarence Thomas.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HILL: Judge Thomas began to use work situations to discuss sex.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BORGER (voice over): Hill claimed Thomas sexually harassed her when she worked for him at the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Thomas vehemently denied those accusations.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CLARENCE THOMAS, ASSOCIATE JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES: As a black American, as far as I'm concerned, it is a high tech lynching.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BORGER (voice over): He was confirmed to the Supreme Court after Biden led the fight against him.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BORGER (on camera): Some say you let the Republicans kind of take over.

JOE BIDEN (D), DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE: I don't think I did, but the point was, I wish I could have done it differently under the rules.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BORGER (voice over): In early 2019, just weeks before Joe Biden launched his campaign for President, Hill got a phone call.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BIDEN: I have apologized to Anita Hill. I wish I could have done better for her. The truth is, I believed her and I believed he should not be in the court.

BORGER (on camera): You called the phone call unsatisfying.

HILL: He didn't take responsibility. He didn't hold himself accountable in any way, except that he was sorry that I felt I wasn't treated fairly.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BORGER (voice over): But Hill says she has been watching this election closely, and Biden seems to be taking more responsibility now. For her, that's enough.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HILL: This is not just about me. It's not just about Joe Biden. It's about millions of people in this country and around the world that we can be a model for.

And I would love to be a part of that. And if it means voting for Joe Biden, so be it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BORGER (voice over): Gloria Borger, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

GOLODGRYGA: Captain Sully Sullenberger says he has had enough of Donald Trump, the airline pilot who became world famous for saving a plane load of passengers during the "Miracle on the Hudson," criticized Trump in a Facebook post saying in part, "For the first time in American history, a President has repeatedly shown utter and vulgar contempt and disrespect for those who have served and died serving our country.

I am disgusted by the current occupant of the Oval Office. He has repeatedly and consistently shown himself to be completely unfit for and to have no respect for the office he holds."

Trump has denied the initial report, but multiple media outlets have corroborated various parts of the reporting, including CNN.

And CNN brings you the stories of Joe Biden and Donald Trump and their fight for the White House. See their triumphs, tragedies, and their dramatic journeys to a showdown.

Don't miss the back-to-back documentary events starting tomorrow at 8:00 p.m. Eastern on CNN.

And we'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:44:31]

GOLODGRYGA: Fifty nine people were arrested overnight in Portland, Oregon as demonstrators gathered for the 100th night of protests in a row. Portland Police declaring the demonstrations a riot, claiming protesters were throwing Molotov cocktails, rocks and other items.

CNN's Josh Campbell joins me now from Portland, and Josh, what more are you learning and seeing?

JOSH CAMPBELL, CNN SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Hi, my friend. Well, as was you mentioned, a hundred days of protests here in the City of Portland. That starting after the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis at the hands of police officers. And as we've been reporting on these protests, we've noted that the

overwhelming majority of them have been peaceful, but there have been incidents of violence at night with some rioters clashing with law enforcement.

[15:45:16]

CAMPBELL: Last night was anything, but peaceful. There were some nonviolent demonstrators in a crowd, but also a very violent group police say that were launching Molotov cocktails, incendiary devices, bottles, and rocks at police officers. Police responding with teargas pushing that crowd back.

This has been part of this pattern that we've seen over and over. Now, the question we always ask is, you know, to both sides of these demonstrations and law enforcement is how long can this possibly go on? The quick answer is there's no end in sight.

We talked to some of the violent demonstrators and they say that they want to abolish police. They want to see them gone, which obviously doesn't look like that's going to happen anytime soon. Law enforcement tells us that as long as these groups remain a threat, they will be out trying to protect property and trying to protect these neighborhoods. So this cycle continues.

It's also worth noting, Bianna, that law enforcement is also on edge right now as they look to tomorrow. We know that last weekend, there was a gathering of hundreds of pro-Trump protesters who came here downtown clashing with some of the demonstrators that leading to several arrests.

We know that one pro-Trump supporter was shot and killed. His alleged killer was later killed in an encounter by police. And so, there's been some rumbling on social media that there may be a repeat that there may be some people on the far right that are trying to come down here to this area. That is something again, that police are very cautious about right now.

Not only are they squaring off with groups of rioters at night, but now there have been other added component of counter protesters, the cycle of violence will likely continue. They are definitely on the lookout for that tomorrow.

We're told that they are -- they will be ready as much as they can, but again, if it passes prologue, we expect potentially a violent day and night tomorrow -- Bianna.

GOLODGRYGA: Yes, and Josh, it's so true. It's one to exercise your constitutional right to protest and march peacefully, but when these things turn violent and ugly, obviously that's an entirely different situation and story.

You've been covering this from the jump and have been doing a fantastic job, Josh, at doing that and telling us the truth and the facts. Really appreciate it.

Thank you so much. , Josh Campbell. Stay safe.

CAMPBELL: Thank you. Thanks.

GOLODGRYGA: Well, protesters take to the streets for a fourth straight night in Rochester, New York demanding justice for Daniel Prude.

Prude died following an encounter with police back in March after his brother called 911 to report that he was having a mental health episode. Prude was naked in the street on a cold winter night before he was handcuffed by police and eventually fell unconscious. His death was ruled a homicide and will now go before a grand jury.

Rochester Mayor, Lovely Warren dismissing calls for her resignation just moments ago saying she is committed to making sure Daniel Prude did not die in vain.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MAYOR LOVELY WARREN (D), ROCHESTER, NEW YORK: We had a human being in need of help, in need of compassion.

In that moment, we had an opportunity to protect him to keep him warm, to bring him to safety, to begin the process of healing him and lifting him up.

We have to own the fact that in that moment, we did not do that.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GOLODGRYGA: And joining me now to discuss is Riana Elyse Anderson, a psychologist and an Assistant Professor in the Department of Health Behavior and Health Education at the University of Michigan. Riana, this is a very important conversation that the entire team here has been wanting to focus on and that's mental health.

Daniel Prude was clearly in emotional distress. Did the system fail him given everything we now know?

RIANA ELYSE ANDERSON, PSYCHOLOGIST AND ASSISTANT PROFESSOR IN THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH BEHAVIOR AND HEALTH EDUCATION, UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN: Absolutely. So we know that the way that law enforcement typically sees folks of color is through a different lens, and there's tons of research that looks at the stereotype that people have of black and brown people that they tend to be, quote, "more aggressive or older than they are in real life."

And so the way that you handle that is through force, through unnecessary force and through a power that, unfortunately, has taken several of the lives that we now know and is infamous this year.

GOLODGRYGA: And the hospital where Daniel Prude was treated following his encounter with police has released a statement saying in part, quote, "We support expansion of services that will allow mental health professionals to work more closely with law enforcement to provide appropriate and compassionate care to people in crisis." You know, I spoke with a police officer yesterday, who also said that

the police are asked to be every role, every player and when they respond to these types of situation, they don't come with the equipment and the know-how that a mental health expert would know.

So what role should police play in addressing mental health issues in America? Are there courses they should be taking?

ANDERSON: It's a great question and it's one as I'm hearing you say that that teachers can say the same things of or other occupations in which there are lots of things that we're asking these professionals to be at any given time.

[15:50:10]

ANDERSON: But that also doesn't excuse them from utilizing force that is taking the life again of several people, or at least paralyzing people that we know today who would otherwise be able-bodied or would otherwise be around.

So with this education or with the lens that people have to take, it's first acknowledging and being aware and understanding, I need to have a better lens, I need to look through this with a training or through a mindset that doesn't go for shoot first. It doesn't see this person as a threat.

It's what is this person going through? How may I be able to assist this person and what it is that they're doing, which several other countries utilize, and we don't see the fatalities in those other countries.

GOLODGRYGA: And I guess, something that's different between us and other countries is the amount of guns and violent weapons that we have on our streets.

So what is your response to those who say, listen, if you just send a mental health advocate in somebody who is having mental issues also happens to have a weapon or things turn violent, how is this mental health professionals supposed to be prepared and protect themselves for that? What do you say in that situation?

ANDERSON: Yes, you know, I'm thinking about it in both ways. So that we use force, generally speaking, that police officers or those that are going into these situations have weapons at their disposal also brings up the other side of that coin where the question might be, if I have this gun at my disposal, will I use that first?

Or will I use the tools that I've been trained in this course or that I've learned over the course of my ascension to this rank? Will I use those tools? So that's the other question I might ask.

Yes, there are certainly weapons within the hands of those within the streets, but there are also weapons that folks who utilize that force employing as well.

So not to skirt the question, but really to say if anyone has tools at their disposal, what is it that they're going to utilize and it is a question, right -- is our law enforcement, then unfortunately, they probably won't use the other tools at their disposal.

GOLODGRYGA: It should be all about de-escalation and really understanding what mental health crises people are going through in their lives, especially during a pandemic and economic crisis as well.

Riana Elyse Anderson, I wish we could have you on for more. Hopefully, you can come back. This is such an important conversation to be had.

Thank you for what you're doing.

ANDERSON: Thank you so much.

GOLODGRYGA: Well, this just in, a typhoon packing wind gusts of up to 150 miles per hour slamming into Japan. More than one million people are ordered to evacuate.

Plus protesters return to the streets of Hong Kong and police are already cracking down.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:57:31]

GOLODGRYGA: And we've got some breaking news to bring you out of Japan where the country is being lashed by a powerful typhoon. Almost two million people have been ordered to evacuate as wind gusts of almost 150 miles per hour hit the Island of Kyushu.

Hundreds of thousands of homes in Japan are without power and the storm is expected to hit the Korean Peninsula next.

Protests have returned to the streets of Hong Kong. Riot police clashed with demonstrators through the streets after opposition leaders called for protests against the government's postponement of elections.

Police moved in to contain protesters as part of a larger crackdown against members of the political opposition.

CNN's Ivan Watson is there.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

IVAN WATSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: This is the scene in Hong Kong right now. Take a look as the riot police come down. They are chasing demonstrators through the streets of this city, demonstrators who had been chanting "Riot police, your family go to hell."

And this is coming -- we have to watch because the police vehicles are coming through. This is coming after opposition leaders had called for a protest against the government's postponements of elections here by at least a year.

We have not seen any sign of violence on the part of the demonstrators, but you can see how swiftly the riot police move in.

They've been calling this containment operations. They've been grabbing protesters, searching them, and taking down their identity cards. This is part of a larger crackdown against members of the political opposition in this city.

And what we can see very clearly here is that even peaceful political protest is simply not tolerated by the authorities in Hong Kong.

Ivan Watson, CNN, Hong Kong.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

GOLODGRYGA: Hong Kong Congress fighting against the odd for democracy.

Well, I'm Bianna Golodryga. CNN NEWSROOM continues with Ana Cabrera right now.

ANA CABRERA, CNN HOST: You're watching a Special Labor Day Weekend edition of CNN NEWSROOM. Thanks for joining me. I'm Ana Cabrera in New York.

And less than two months to go until the election and guess what? It's tell all-book season.

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